If you need saving...

I know just the superheroes to call...

*pointed toes...!

Date night (x's 3)

One of our kids' favorite things to do is go on dates with just mommy or daddy, by themselves. They love the one-on-one time, and it's fun for Rob and I to treat them to that once in a while. 

Rob had gone last, so it was my turn. What I love about dates with my kids is 1) it doesn't have to be a long amount of time, and 2) it doesn't have to be elaborate. I literally had 2 or 3 hours before Rob and I were going out for a date together, so I first took Ellie to get hot chocolate and visit a cute shop with toys she could play with in Glen Ellyn, then swung back home to drop her off and pick up Robbie. He and I called a pizza order in, hit up Starbucks as well, then grabbed a few gummy worms at the popcorn shop before picking the pizza up and heading home for dinner before the sitter came.

Great memories, and they both gushed for days afterwards. I love these 2.

Also, these pictures of Robbie kill me. He may actually kill me one day for this. Oh honey, you are the best little boy out there.

Annual Bellito-Larson-Livingston Xmas Bash

Every year we gather with our dear friends to celebrate the Christmas season together. We draw names for our children to exchange gifts, and enjoy a day of long-anticipated togetherness. 

This year we got to meet the newest addition to our clan - June! And oh my, is she precious. And perfect. The kind of perfect that fits nicely into my purse... ahem.

Photobombed. Sorry June.

Not quite ready to give up her nearly 2 year run as youngest-of-the-group?

Sweet June. You've never seen such a doll!

Uncle Matt keeping things lively and fun! Pretending to throw the children one by one out the back door as it began to snow. They ATE IT UP. {Uncle Jeff and Rob in the background}

Some years we mothers have been known to coordinate our kiddo's outfits or even pj's and arranged impressive large group shots of 8 kids 4 years old and under. This year we rewarded them for playing so nicely with each other the whole day by not torturing them. And yes, the day has finally come that they require little supervision at our gatherings, allowing the adults to really catch up on life with full conversations!

Ellie meeting the newest addition to our 'family'. And we can't wait for the next one to arrive this year - the newest little Bellito! Babies, babies, babies. I can't get enough.

The day(s) after Christmas

We got to see Rob's dad for a long weekend after Christmas when he flew in for a visit. We don't see Rob's family as often as we would love to, so we made the most of our time together just being together and watching the kids do their thing. When that wasn't entertaining enough, we went to the Willis (SEARS, I hate the name change) Tower and tested our courage. 

Three Roberts 

After Rob's dad left, we spent a lot of time resting and recovering from all the activity (and sugar), and getting back into our normal routine. 

 

Epic staring contest:

Robbie always wins!

Another year, another Erin Condren planner. The only reason January doesn't hurt so bad.

Wow, so much to be thankful for. I love all of these images of precious moments spent together.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was spent at our house, and afterwards we went out to my mom and dad's house and had our Christmas with them, Kelsey, my brother Collin and his girlfriend Elizabeth. It was a full day, we made a lot of awesome memories, and totally exhausted our kiddos.

Livingston Kids, Christmas 2012